August 20 to August 25,
2017, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Dear Colleagues, Dear
Friends:
On August 20th to the
25th, 2017, the XVIIIth Congress of the International Association of Buddhist
Studies will take place at the University of Toronto, in one of the world’s
most diverse and dynamic cities. It is with excitement that on behalf of the
IABS, my university, and the conference’s planning committee, I send you this
first circular to warmly invite all IABS members and supporters to the congress
in Toronto.
General Information
The XVIIIth Congress
represents a recurring opportunity for Buddhist studies scholars from around
the world to come together and celebrate the achievements of our field. Since
the diversity of the field is ever increasing, the congress is also a good
moment for new members to join our community. Colleagues who do not currently
hold membership should apply through the online form at the IABS website
at www.iabsinfo.net.
Initial enquiries about eligibility should be sent to the association's
Secretary General, Dr. Ulrich Pagel (up1@soas.ac.uk).
The International
Association of Buddhist Studies is grateful for the support of its members,
without which it would not exist. Membership comes with both privileges and
duties. The Planning Committee would like to remind all prospective
participants that they must be a fully paid member for the year
2017 in order to attend the event, deliver a paper or sit on a panel. To
be a member of the association in 2017, colleagues wishing to participate in
the congress will need to pay their IABS dues by December 31, 2016. All
participants will also need to pay a congress registration fee used to help us
cover the cost of hosting the event. The exact amount will be announced in the
Second Circular.
Further Circulars,
Information, and Website
Further circulars and
information will be relayed via email. So please visit the conference website
athttp://www.iabs2017-uoft.ca and
complete the electronic “Mailing List” request form, to be found on the
website’s “Contact” page, as soon as possible. In order to attract to the
congress scholars who do not hold current IABS membership, please forward this
First Circular to anybody who might be interested in joining us in Toronto.
Academic Program
The aim of this Congress
is to foster dialogue in the field, generate unique directions in research and
come together to support the personal achievements of inspirational members. In
order to meet these aims and contribute to the success of both ongoing and new
research projects, the Planning Committee wishes to reaffirm the following
format of proceedings:
(i) So that a range of
scholars and research will be represented, only one paper per participant is
permitted.
(ii) Each day will
consist of four periods lasting an hour and a half each. During these periods
of time several panels convene simultaneously. Five or six papers maximum will
comprise each panel or section, with each paper allotted no more than 20
minutes. An additional 10 minutes for questions and discussion will be afforded
for each paper.
(iii) General topics
will be provided by the Planning Committee after input from current IABS
members. Papers will be grouped by section according to the general topics
announced in the Second Circular, April 2016.
(iv) All panels will be
limited to half a day, save for special circumstances. Convenors organizing the
panels will personally contact selected contributors.
Call for Initial Panel
Proposals
With the interests and
expertise of our members in mind, the Planning Committee would like to invite
initial panel proposals from scholars and colleagues reflecting the wide and
evolving range of Buddhist studies. Please provide a brief, 200 word
description of the proposed topic for the panel you wish to convene. Include
along with your description a tentative list of potential contributors for the panel
(not counted within the 200 word limit). After the selected panel topics have
been presented in the Second Circular, interested parties should contact the
panel convenor directly to inquire about joining.
The initial panel
proposals should be sent to Christoph Emmrich, Chair, Planning Committee of the
XVIIIth IABS Congress, University of Toronto, Dept. for the Study of Religion,
at christoph.emmrich@utoronto.ca. The deadline for the initial panel proposals is January
31, 2016.
Individual Paper Proposals
The Planning Committee
will provide a list of themes in the Second Circular, along with a call for
individual papers accordingly.
Posters and Exhibits
We welcome both posters
and exhibits from members for this congress. The Second Circular will contain
guidelines for special sessions of poster and exhibit presentations where
members can engage one another in a less formal setting.
Visa Requirements
Please be advised that
members should inquire into visa regulations between Canada and their home
country as soon as possible. The planning committee is not able to procure
visas for international attendees. Members may inquire through commercial
travel agents, or with the Canadian consulate in your home country/region.
Accommodations
The University of
Toronto is surrounded by a wide selection of culinary treasures, cultural sites
and world class lodgings. Available accommodations range from discount dormitory
style at $45/night, to midrange and boutique hotels, even bed and breakfast
style rooms near campus. A full list of accommodations will be made available
with the Second Circular.
Conference/Travel Grants
We regret that there is
no financial assistance available directly from the Planning Committee, yet we
encourage members to immediately pursue external grants, bursaries and
stipends. The Planning Committee strives to ensure an affordable and enjoyable
experience for all participants, scholars and students alike. The registration
deadline and fee will be stated in the next circular.
The Team of the XVIIIth
IABS Congress
I am delighted to
present to you the conference’s Planning Committee. It will be generously
assisted by the academic coordinator and his emerging team, as well as local
administrative staff and volunteers.
Planning Committee
President: Anne MacDonald, University of Vienna
Planning Committee
Chair: Christoph Emmrich, University of Toronto
Planning Committee
Members: Wendi Adamek, University of Calgary; James Apple, University of
Calgary; Dan Arnold, University of Chicago; James Benn, McMaster University;
Lara Braitstein, McGill University; Chen Shen, Royal Ontario Museum; Jinhua
Chen, University of British Columbia; Shayne Clarke, McMaster University;
Deepali Dewan, Royal Ontario Museum; David Drewes, University of Manitoba;
Frances Garrett, University of Toronto; Amanda Goodman, University of Toronto;
Nam-Lin Hur, University of British Columbia; Chiara Letizia, Université de
Québec; Jessica Main, University of British Columbia; Jason Neelis, Wilfrid Laurier University; Mark
Rowe, McMaster University; Jeff Wilson, University of Waterloo
Planning Committee
Advisory Board: Collett Cox, University of Washington; Birgit Kellner,
University of Heidelberg; Ulrich Pagel, University of London; Tom Tillemans,
University of Lausanne
Academic Coordination:
Anthony Scott, University of Toronto
Allow me to conclude by
wishing you a productive time ahead and by expressing my hope that my
colleagues and I will see you in Toronto in 2017.
Yours truly,
Christoph Emmrich
